American Robin

The American Robin is a migratory songbird of the thrush family, famous as a harbinger of spring. Adults feature a dark gray back, a yellow bill, and a striking brick-red to orange breast. They are active foragers often seen hopping across lawns in search of earthworms.

Rich warm terracotta or brick-red coloration across the pennaceous vane, with greyish-white downy barbs at the base. Melanin-based pigmentation typical of adult breast plumage.

Pennaceous upper vane with tightly interlocked barbicels transitioning into a plumulaceous (fluffy) downy base at the proximal end. No prominent afterfeather.

Central rachis is thin, flexible, whitish-brown, tapering toward the tip. Barbs are fine, densely packed, and set at a moderate angle to the shaft.

Soft yet relatively firm vane at the tip, transitioning to a fluffy, downy texture at the base. Matte finish.

Breast or upper flank, indicated by the warm reddish-orange coloration characteristic of the species' underparts.

Distinctive warm terracotta-red coloration on a small, rounded contour feather with a fluffy grey base, characteristic of the robin's iconic breast plumage.

Found in woodlands, forests, suburban areas, parks, gardens, and agricultural fields throughout North America.

Widely distributed across North America, breeding from Alaska and Canada down to Mexico, wintering mainly in the southern US and Central America.

Acts as an important seed disperser for various berry-producing shrubs and trees, and serves as a key prey species for medium-sized raptors and mammals.

Other thrushes such as the Varied Thrush or Eastern Bluebird, though breast feather coloration and geographic context usually differentiate American Robin feathers.

American Robins can eat up to 14 percent of their body weight in earthworms every day, along with large quantities of berries which can occasionally ferment and intoxicate the birds.

The American Robin is the state bird of Connecticut, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Because they are protected by law, their feathers are primarily studied for educational or scientific purposes rather than craft use.

Look for bright brick-red contour feathers on lawns, under low shrubs, or near typical American Robin nesting and roosting sites during the spring and summer molting periods.

Good condition. The vane is largely intact with minimal fraying, showing standard wear typical of a naturally molted body feather.